Greenville man admits to killing Hillcrest High student
GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A Greenville man pleaded guilty to murder on Thursday. He was arrested after a shooting in 2021 claimed the life of a Hillcrest High School student.
Elijah “EJ” Smith was in his car, unarmed outside of Tipsy Taco on Fairview Road in Simpsonville. Investigators said 22-year-old Sagin Willasch was trying to rob someone, but fired a shot that hit Smith during the incident.
Smith was a beloved senior and basketball player at Hillcrest. Prayer vigils and a memorial were set up at the school.
He worked at King Tut Grill and his coworkers said he did everything with a smile.
No matter what part of his job he was doing, he was always smiling,” restaurant owner Warner Bouzek said to FOX Carolina in 2021. “Always a happy kid, great to be around, just a tragic loss.”
Willasch was sentenced to 40 years in prison for murder and attempted armed robbery. He is not eligible for parole.
